Wheel structure



July 11, 1944, e. A. LYON WHEEL STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 62 0: a: flz aser (r04 Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL STRUCTURE I ,George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Original application January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,171. Divided and this application January 12, 1942, Serial No. 426,451

2 Claims. (01. 301-37) This invention relates to a wheel structure, and more particularly to the provision therein of novel cover retaining means.

The subject matter'of the present application has been divided from my copending application Serial No. 375,171, filed January 21, 1941, entitled Wheel structure.

An object of this invention is to provide in a wheel structure a more simplified and compact arrangement for retaining cover and trim members on a wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide cover retaining means which may be disposed compactly within the confines of the wheel body, and more particularly within a plurality of openings in the wheel body between the wheel body and the tire rim at the junction of these two parts of the wheel.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided in a wheel structure a wheel including tire rim and body parts joined together at spaced intervals with spaced openings between th joints and with a plurality of cover retaining spring clips in the openings and secured to one of the wheel parts; the spring clips extending outwardly beyond the openings and each having a yieldable portion for engaging the wheel and retaining on the wheel a wheel cover or trim member.

In accordance with other features of the invention, the cover retaining spring clips are each provided with a radially and outwardly inclined end portion for yieldably engaging an inner edge of the cover member.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates several embodiments thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel structure embodying this invention and showing the cover partly broken away to illustrate the positions of the spring retaining clips;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged cross sectional View taken substantially on the line IIII of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view corresponding to the upper right hand portion of Figure 2 and showing more clearly the coaction of the spring clips with both the cover member and the trim ring.

As shown on the drawing:

The reference character I designates generally a multi-fianged drop center type of tire rim which includes a base flange I l fastened at spaced intervals to a convex-concave wheel body part or spider l2 having the usual central bolt-on flange l3 for attachment to a suitablesupport for the automobile wheel. As will be observed from both Figures 1 and 2, the connections between the rim part 10 and the spider part l2 are spaced by openings I4 in the body part, in which openings are disposed spring clips designated generally by the reference character 20. These spring clips are all identical, and hence a description of one will suflice for all. First, it should be noted that the purpose of these spring clips 20 is to retain a multiple of cover members on the wheel, namely, a central wheel disk l5 and an annular trim ring IS. The central disk [5 has an underturned outer edge or skirt portion l1 adapted to bear against the inner edge l8 of the trim ring l6. Also, if it is desired, the upper edge of the trim ring [6 may be turned as designated at H! so as to reinforce it at the pry-oil area.

As is clearly shown in Figure 3, each of the spring clips 20 is adapted to engage both of edges I! and I8 of the disk-l5 and ring IE. Each clip includes an axially extending body portion 2| extending through an opening l4 and suitably fastened, as by rivets 22, to the body part l2. Each clip has a rear bent end 23 turned radially inward over a rear edge of the body part l2 to prevent turning of the clip. Also, each clip includes a loop-like free end 24 having an axially and radially inclined end portion 25 turned axially back upon the body portion 2| and constructed and arranged to engage yieldably the edges l5 and I6.

In the application of the cover member to the wheel, the trim ring it is first pressed over the inclined end portion 25 of the spring clip, which end or edge portion yields as the edge of the trim ring is passed thereover. As a consequence, the edge portions 25 of the loop-like ends 24 of the spring clips apply a resilient or yieldable pressure against the inner edge I8 of the trim ring Hi to hold the same against the rim part II].

Similarly, the central cover member l5 may thereafter be applied to th clips until the edge I I of the cover member is in the retained position shown in Figure 3. From Figure 3, it will be perceived that the same inclined portion 25 of each of the clips engages both of the edges l1 and I8 of the two cover members. Moreover, since the spring clips exert a stress-ed or spring retaining pressure against the edge ll, these clips not only hold the cover member IS in position but also clamp this cover member against the inner marginal portion of the rim ring I6.

In the above described embodiment of the invention, the spring clip means serves to hold tightly the cover member by means of the resilient pressure against the cooperating part of the wheel and cover. The engagement is a detachable one, in that the cover part may be easily pried loose from the wheel by means of a suitable pry-off tool such as a screw-driver. Thatis to say, by inserting the free end of the pry-off tool or screwdriver under the outermost edge of the cover' extending outwardly beyond the associated openmember l5 it is easy to pry the cover member free J of its retaining engagement by the spring clips, thereby also freeing the ring-shaped cover member I6.

I claim. as my invention: 1. In a wheel structure including a flanged connections, a plurality of cover retaining spring clips at said openings and each being secured to one of said wheel parts and having a free end extending outwardly beyond the associated opening, each of said openings being defined on one side by an axially rearwardly extending flange tire rim part and a body part connected together at spaced intervals with spaced openings between ing, each of said openings being defined on one side by an axially rearwardly extending flange on 'said body part, said flange comprising a supporting base towhich a clip is fastened, and a wheel cover for concealing said openings and having an dge snapped over the free ends of said clips and into retaining engagement therewith, the free end of each of said clips being turned back upon itself radially outward of the fastening of the clip and defining an inclined surface opposite a side flange of the rim part and between which side flange and inclined surface the edge of the cover is adapted to be clampingly retained.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

